This Restaurant Will Only Serve Gluten-Free Meals With a Doctor's Note

With the rise of celiac disease, an increase in gluten-free diets is to be expected. But then there are those people who shun gluten not because because their doctor told them to do so, but because it’s trendy. And that, according to a cafe owner in Dublin, cannot stand. In fact, the owner of White Moose Cafe says he will now require doctor’s notes from diners who order gluten-free items.

Owner Paul Stenson made the tongue-presumably-in-cheek announcement on his restaurant’s Facebook page over the weekend. It quickly attracted attention, garnering more than 33,000 likes and 6,000 shares.

Not everyone was amused. Several commenters took to Facebook to argue that the post was insensitive to those who have legitimate medical reasons for abstaining from gluten. Stenson, however, didn’t seem to care.

The day after his post went viral, Stenson returned to Facebook to explain that no, it was not a joke and yes, he was really serious (uh, maybe).

A number of chefs have expressed their displeasure with the rise of gluten-free diets. One noted example is Anthony Bourdain, who has stated that those who eat gluten-free for the sake of being trendy should perhaps "see a fucking doctor" before they make such a leap.

Others have been so incensed with special diets that they take matters a step further — as in the case of a chef who bragged about serving meat to vegans, and was promptly fired.

• Man Gives Lesson in How to Antagonize People With Food Allergies [News.com.au]

• Anthony Bourdain Hates Your Gluten-Free Diet [E]

• All Controversies Coverage [E]

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